EP0834880B1 - Arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit - Google Patents
Arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0834880B1 EP0834880B1 EP96410104A EP96410104A EP0834880B1 EP 0834880 B1 EP0834880 B1 EP 0834880B1 EP 96410104 A EP96410104 A EP 96410104A EP 96410104 A EP96410104 A EP 96410104A EP 0834880 B1 EP0834880 B1 EP 0834880B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- mounting
- support structure
- subsystem unit
- members
- unit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B33/00—Constructional parts, details or accessories not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- G11B33/12—Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules
- G11B33/125—Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules the apparatus comprising a plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. modular arrangements, arrays of disc drives
- G11B33/127—Mounting arrangements of constructional parts onto a chassis
- G11B33/128—Mounting arrangements of constructional parts onto a chassis of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B33/00—Constructional parts, details or accessories not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- G11B33/02—Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a mounting arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit (for example, a mass-storage drive unit) in a piece of equipment such as a desktop computer.
- a subsystem unit for example, a mass-storage drive unit
- Floppy disc drive units and other mass-storage drive units have traditionally been mounted in desktop computers using fixing screws to secure the unit to a support structure.
- the fixing screws engage threaded apertures providing at standard positions in the sides of the drive unit.
- Such a mounting arrangement has a number of drawbacks particularly where a user is effecting installation of the drive unit; for example, the fixing screws are awkward to access and are easily dropped inside the computer housing.
- Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a drive-unit mounting arrangement intended to overcome some of the drawbacks of the traditional mounting method. More particularly, Figure 1 shows a 5.25 inch floppy disc drive unit 10 to which two side members 12 are attached by means of screws 13 that engage in threaded apertures 11 formed at standard positions in the sides of the unit 10. In Figure 1, one side member is shown up against the unit 10 whilst the other is shown spaced from the unit for clarity of illustration.
- the side members 12 serve to guide sliding insertion of the unit 10 into a support structure of a computer, the support structure being provided with guide rails for the purpose.
- the side members 12 which are typically formed of plastics material, are each provided with a resilient snap-engagement member 15.
- the members 15 snap engage into a locking position against the support structure when the drive unit 10 is a fully inserted into the computer support structure.
- resilient metal contacts 14 are secured on the side members by means of the fixing screws 13 and provide grounding of the drive unit 10 to the support structure (the fixing screws 13 being of metal and providing an electrical connection between the contacts 14 and the casing of the disc drive 10).
- a mounting arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit provided with side fixing holes comprising:
- a user can easily install a new subsystem unit (for example, a new mass-storage drive) as this simply involves placing the side mounting members either side of the unit and then sliding the unit and side mounting members into the support structure, there being no need for tools to be used to effect these operations.
- a new subsystem unit for example, a new mass-storage drive
- the mounting arrangement is preferably configured such that the unit can be slid into a fully-inserted position along a front-to-rear axis of the unit leaving the front face outermost; with such a configuration, it is not even necessary to remove any casing surrounding the support structure in order to install the unit.
- the side mounting members can be physically separate from each other to facilitate them being placed either side of the subsystem unit; in this case, the support structure serves to hold the side mounting members in position against the unit when the latter is inserted in the support structure.
- the side mounting members can be interconnected by a flexible member permitting the side mounting members to be flexed out of a normal oppositely-facing configuration for engagement about the subsystem unit; interconnecting the side members facilitates their storage in the support structure prior to a unit being installed.
- each side mounting member comprises a wall element and at least one mounting element in the form of a generally U-shaped resilient metal member with two interconnected side arms that embrace the wall element, one arm of the mounting element being provided with a projection serving as a said stud of the side mounting member and the other arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting resilient contact providing an electrical grounding connection to the support structure.
- the side mounting members are formed with resilient snap-engagement means for snap engaging the support structure to hold the subsystem unit in its fully inserted position, the snap-enagement means being manually releasable to enable a user to remove the unit.
- the snap-engagement means preferably also snap engage with the support structure at a partially-inserted position of the subsystem unit.
- the side mounting members are arranged to accommodate two units disposed one above the other in spaced relation.
- a mounting element for use in mounting a subsystem unit on a support structure through the intermediary of side mounting members, said subsystem unit having side fixing holes;
- the mounting element comprising a generally U-shaped resilient metal member having two inter-connected side arms for embracing a wall portion of a said side mounting member, one said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting stud for engagement in a said side fixing hole of the subsystem unit and the other said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting resilient contact for providing an electrical grounding connection to said support structure.
- Figure 2 shows the main components of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, here shown in relation to mounting a CD-ROM drive 20 having a front face 21, a rear electrical connector 22, and side fixing holes 23.
- the Figure 2 mounting arrangement can mount two such drive units 20.
- the Figure 2 mounting arrangement involves the use of two side members 24 and 25 that engage the sides of the drive unit 20 and serve to facilitate the sliding insertion and location of the drive unit 20 in a support structure of a computer.
- the side members 24 and 25 are not screwed to the sides of the drive unit 20. Instead, studs 20 of the side members 24 and 25 are arranged to locate in the fixing holes 23 of the unit 20 but without screw engagement.
- the side members 24 and 25 must initially be engaged against the sides of the drive unit 20 and held there until the assembly formed by the unit 10 and members 24, 25 is inserted into the support structure; thereafter, the support structure (to be described below) serves to hold the side members against the drive unit preventing the studs 27 from coming out of the fixing holes 23.
- the side member 25 comprises a side wall element 26 formed from a plastics material and providing upper and lower drive bays for locating upper and lower drive units 20 one below the other.
- the upper drive bay has two associated locating studs 27A and 27B; similarly, the lower drive bay has two locating studs 27C and 27D.
- the wall element 26 is formed with two resilient arms 28 and 29 providing respective snap-engagement mechanisms for cooperation with corresponding elements provided on the computer support structure.
- the locating studs 27B and 27D are integrally formed with the wall elements 26. However, the locating studs 27A and 27C are provided by spring-metal mounting elements 30 engaged on the wall elements 26; the purpose of the mounting elements is to provide a grounding connection between the casing of a drive unit 20 and the computer support structure.
- each mounting element 30 can best be seen from Figures 6 and 7.
- Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of part of the wall element 26 showing the shape of the mounting element 30 and how it is engaged with the wall element 26.
- the mounting element 30 is generally U-shaped in form with two arms that embrace the wall element 26.
- One arm is formed with a resilient contact 31 and an inwardly-directed projection 32 whilst the other arm is formed with a locating stud 27 and another inwardly-directed projection 24.
- the projection 32 engages in a recess 33 in the wall element 26 whereas the 34 engages in an aperture 35 in the element 26. Together the projections 32 and 34 serve to hold the mounting element 30 in position on the wall element 26.
- the mounting element 30 is formed with a depression 36 in the zone of engagement of the element 30.
- the mounting element 30 is made of spring metal enabling the wall element 26 readily to be pushed between the arms of the element 30 to locate the latter on the wall elements 26 in a position shown in Figure 6.
- Figure 7 shows, in plan form, a stamped metal part ready for bending to form the mounting element 30.
- the mounting elements 30 provide a good electrical connection between the drive unit 20 and the support structure, this being achieved by means of the studs 27 locating in the drive unit side wall and the resilient contacts 31.
- Figure 8 shows the part of a metal support structure of a desktop computer configured to receive the assembly of side members 24 and 25 placed around one or two drive units 20.
- the support structure comprises a base plate 49 integral with a front wall 41 and mounting side walls 50 and 51.
- a cross member 55 joins the tops of the side walls 50 and 51.
- the front wall 41 is formed with a rectangular aperture 42 for receiving the assembly of the side members 24, 25 and drive unit(s) 20.
- the part of the wall 41 forming the lower edge 43 of the aperture 42 is formed with guiding recesses 44 for receiving the bottom edges of the side members 24 and 25.
- the upper cross element 46 of the front wall 41 is formed with recesses 46 for receiving and guiding the tops of the side members 24 and 25.
- the side walls 50 and 51 are provided with ledges 52 intended to support the bottom of the side members 24 and 25 and to guide the insertion of the members into the space defined between the walls 50 and 51.
- pressed-out elements 53 are designed to engage mid-height external ribs 54 ( see Figure 2) of the side member 24 and 25 to ensure that these members remain up against the disc drive or drives 20.
- Downwardly projecting members 56 pressed out from the cross member 55 serve as stop elements behind which the resilient arms 29 of the side members snap engage when the side members are fully inserted into the support structure.
- the rear edge of the cross element 45 of the support structure performs a similar function for the resilient arms 28 when the side members are in a partially inserted position.
- Figures 9, 10 and 11 show progressive stages of insertion of an assembly of the Figure 2 components into the support structure 40 through aperture 42. More particularly, Figure 9 shows the assembly of components 20, 24 and 25 at the start of the insertion process; at-this stage the side members 24 and 25 must be held against the sides of the drive unit 20 by a user. Figure 10 shows the assembly of components 20, 24 and 25 in a partially inserted position in which the snap-engagement arms 28 have just snapped engaged behind the cross element 45; in this position, a user need no longer hold the side members 24 and 25 against the unit 20.
- the component assembly in the partially inserted position there is sufficient space behind the rear of the drive 20 to enable an electrical connector to be engaged with the connector 22 on the rear of the unit 20 (such engagement may be very difficult when the unit 20 is fully inserted as space is normally at a premium within a desktop computer). If a user wishes to remove the component assembly 20, 24 and 25 from the support structure 40 when the component assembly is in its partially inserted position, then the arms 28 can be readily released from the snap-engaged position by downward finger pressure on the arm.
- Figure 11 shows the component assembly 20, 24 and 25 fully inserted in the support structure 40 with the snap-engagement arms 29 snap engaged behind the stop elements 56.
- a user To withdraw the component assembly from the support structure, a user must release the snap-engagement mechanism by using finger pressure to move the arms 29 inward towards each other.
- Figure 12 shows two drive units 20 held in position between the side members 24 and 25 and inserted in the support structure 40.
- the side members can be designed to mount only one drive unit and Figure 13 illustrates side members 61 and 62 suitable for this purpose.
- the side members 61 and 62 are each provided with locating studs 27, snap-engagement arms 28 and 29, and a metal mounting element 30 (providing one of the studs 27).
- Figure 14 shows a variant of the Figure 13 arrangement in which the side members 61 and 62 are joined by a flexible bridge element 65.
- the flexibility of the bridge element 65 is such that the side members 61 and 62 can be flexed apart as indicated by -arrow A to permit a drive unit 20 to be placed between them.
- the studs 27 of the members 61, 62 engage in the fixing holes in the side of the drive unit.
- flange elements 67 provided along the bottom of the Figure 14 side members 61, 62 are made narrower than the corresponding elements 66 of the Figure 13 side members.
- Figure 14 arrangement makes initial engagement of the side members with the drive unit a little more cumbersome than for the Figure 13 arrangement, it has the advantage that the user does not need to hold the side members 61 and 62 up against the drive unit prior to insertion of the assembly into the support structure.
- a further advantage is that the side members 61 and 62 can be stored in position in the support structure without a drive unit 20 positioned between them.
- the mounting arrangements illustrated in Figures 2 to 14 can be dimensioned for mounting any size of mass-storage drive unit. Where the mounting arrangements are dimensioned to mount 5"25 drive units, any suitable adaptor can be used to enable 3"5 drive units also to be mounted. Furthermore, although the mounting arrangements illustrated in Figures 2 to 14 have been described as intended for mounting a mass-storage drive unit, it will be understood that the mounting arrangements could also be used to mount other types of subsystem unit. For example, the mounted subsystem unit could be a small printer.
Description
- The present invention relates to a mounting arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit (for example, a mass-storage drive unit) in a piece of equipment such as a desktop computer.
- Floppy disc drive units and other mass-storage drive units have traditionally been mounted in desktop computers using fixing screws to secure the unit to a support structure. The fixing screws engage threaded apertures providing at standard positions in the sides of the drive unit. Such a mounting arrangement has a number of drawbacks particularly where a user is effecting installation of the drive unit; for example, the fixing screws are awkward to access and are easily dropped inside the computer housing.
- Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a drive-unit mounting arrangement intended to overcome some of the drawbacks of the traditional mounting method. More particularly, Figure 1 shows a 5.25 inch floppy
disc drive unit 10 to which twoside members 12 are attached by means ofscrews 13 that engage in threadedapertures 11 formed at standard positions in the sides of theunit 10. In Figure 1, one side member is shown up against theunit 10 whilst the other is shown spaced from the unit for clarity of illustration. Theside members 12 serve to guide sliding insertion of theunit 10 into a support structure of a computer, the support structure being provided with guide rails for the purpose. Theside members 12 which are typically formed of plastics material, are each provided with a resilient snap-engagement member 15. Themembers 15 snap engage into a locking position against the support structure when thedrive unit 10 is a fully inserted into the computer support structure. In addition,resilient metal contacts 14 are secured on the side members by means of thefixing screws 13 and provide grounding of thedrive unit 10 to the support structure (thefixing screws 13 being of metal and providing an electrical connection between thecontacts 14 and the casing of the disc drive 10). - In using the Figure 1 arrangement, a user can secure the
side members 12 to thedrive unit 10 away from the computer itself, the resultant assembly then being slid into the support structure of the computer. The arrangement is clearly preferable to the traditional one where the screw fixing of the drive unit must be done in situ. Nevertheless, the Figure 1 arrangement still suffers from the drawback that a user has to employ a screw driver to mount the drive unit. - Examples of drive mounting arrangements using side mounting members screwed to the sides of a drive unit can be found in US patents no 5,301,088 and US-A-4,979,909 which latter document is reflected in the preamble of claim 1.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a simpler mounting arrangement for mass-storage drive units and similar subsystems.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit provided with side fixing holes, the mounting arrangement comprising:
- two side mounting members for engaging respective opposite sides of the subsystem unit, each side mounting member having studs that engage in corresponding ones of the side fixing holes when the side mounting members are placed in engagement with the subsystem unit,
- a support structure provided with guide means engaged by the side mounting members for guiding the insertion and withdrawal of the subsystem unit with the side mounting members engaged therewith.
- With this arrangement, a user can easily install a new subsystem unit (for example, a new mass-storage drive) as this simply involves placing the side mounting members either side of the unit and then sliding the unit and side mounting members into the support structure, there being no need for tools to be used to effect these operations.
- Where the subsystem unit has a front face intended to be user-accessible in use, then the mounting arrangement is preferably configured such that the unit can be slid into a fully-inserted position along a front-to-rear axis of the unit leaving the front face outermost; with such a configuration, it is not even necessary to remove any casing surrounding the support structure in order to install the unit.
- The side mounting members can be physically separate from each other to facilitate them being placed either side of the subsystem unit; in this case, the support structure serves to hold the side mounting members in position against the unit when the latter is inserted in the support structure. Alternatively, the side mounting members can be interconnected by a flexible member permitting the side mounting members to be flexed out of a normal oppositely-facing configuration for engagement about the subsystem unit; interconnecting the side members facilitates their storage in the support structure prior to a unit being installed.
- Preferably, each side mounting member comprises a wall element and at least one mounting element in the form of a generally U-shaped resilient metal member with two interconnected side arms that embrace the wall element, one arm of the mounting element being provided with a projection serving as a said stud of the side mounting member and the other arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting resilient contact providing an electrical grounding connection to the support structure.
- Advantageously, the side mounting members are formed with resilient snap-engagement means for snap engaging the support structure to hold the subsystem unit in its fully inserted position, the snap-enagement means being manually releasable to enable a user to remove the unit. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the plugging and unplugging of an electrical connector with the unit, the snap-engagement means preferably also snap engage with the support structure at a partially-inserted position of the subsystem unit.
- In one preferred embodiment, the side mounting members are arranged to accommodate two units disposed one above the other in spaced relation.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting element for use in mounting a subsystem unit on a support structure through the intermediary of side mounting members, said subsystem unit having side fixing holes; the mounting element comprising a generally U-shaped resilient metal member having two inter-connected side arms for embracing a wall portion of a said side mounting member, one said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting stud for engagement in a said side fixing hole of the subsystem unit and the other said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting resilient contact for providing an electrical grounding connection to said support structure.
- A mounting arrangement embodying the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known drive mounting arrangement using side members attached by fixing screws to a drive unit;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a drive unit and two side members of a drive mounting arrangement embodying the present invention;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a side member of the Figure 2 arrangement;
- Figure 4 is a full on view view of the Figure 3 side member;
- Figure 5 is a top plan view of the Figure 3 side member;
- Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of part of the Figure 3 side member illustrating the form of a metal mounting element of the side member;
- Figure 7 shows a stamped metal part used to produce the Figure 6 mounting element;
- Figure 8 is a perspective view of a support structure of a computer, teh support structure being configured to receive the assembly of components shown in Figure 2;
- Figure 9 is a perspective view similar to Figure 8 but showing the assembly of FIgure 2 components about to be introduced into the support structure;
- Figure 10 is a perspective view similar to Figure 9 but showing the assembly of Figure 2 components in a partially inserted position;
- Figure 11 is a perspective view similar to Figure 9 but showing the assembly of Figure 2 components in a fully inserted position;
- Figure 12 is a perspective view similar to Figure 11 but with two drive units mounted in the mounting arrangement;
- Figure 13 is a perspective view of two side members of a second drive mounting arrangement embodying the invention; and
- Figure 14 is a perspective view showing joined side members of a third drive mounting arrangement of the invention.
- Figure 2 shows the main components of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, here shown in relation to mounting a CD-
ROM drive 20 having afront face 21, a rearelectrical connector 22, andside fixing holes 23. In fact, the Figure 2 mounting arrangement can mount twosuch drive units 20. - Like the Figure 1 mounting arrangement, the Figure 2 mounting arrangement involves the use of two
side members drive unit 20 and serve to facilitate the sliding insertion and location of thedrive unit 20 in a support structure of a computer. However, unlike the Figure 1 arrangement, theside members drive unit 20. Instead,studs 20 of theside members fixing holes 23 of theunit 20 but without screw engagement. Thus, theside members drive unit 20 and held there until the assembly formed by theunit 10 andmembers studs 27 from coming out of thefixing holes 23. - A more detailed description of the side members will now be given with reference to Figures 3 to 5 in relation to the
side member 25. Theside member 25 comprises aside wall element 26 formed from a plastics material and providing upper and lower drive bays for locating upper andlower drive units 20 one below the other. The upper drive bay has two associated locatingstuds studs wall element 26 is formed with tworesilient arms - The locating
studs wall elements 26. However, the locatingstuds metal mounting elements 30 engaged on thewall elements 26; the purpose of the mounting elements is to provide a grounding connection between the casing of adrive unit 20 and the computer support structure. - The form of each
mounting element 30 can best be seen from Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of part of thewall element 26 showing the shape of themounting element 30 and how it is engaged with thewall element 26. As can be seen, themounting element 30 is generally U-shaped in form with two arms that embrace thewall element 26. One arm is formed with aresilient contact 31 and an inwardly-directedprojection 32 whilst the other arm is formed with a locatingstud 27 and another inwardly-directedprojection 24. Theprojection 32 engages in arecess 33 in thewall element 26 whereas the 34 engages in anaperture 35 in theelement 26. Together theprojections element 30 in position on thewall element 26. To aid initial location of the mountingelement 30 and to seat the element flush with the main part of thewall element 26, the latter is formed with adepression 36 in the zone of engagement of theelement 30. The mountingelement 30 is made of spring metal enabling thewall element 26 readily to be pushed between the arms of theelement 30 to locate the latter on thewall elements 26 in a position shown in Figure 6. - Figure 7 shows, in plan form, a stamped metal part ready for bending to form the mounting
element 30. - When a
drive unit 20 is mounted between theside members elements 30 provide a good electrical connection between thedrive unit 20 and the support structure, this being achieved by means of thestuds 27 locating in the drive unit side wall and theresilient contacts 31. - Figure 8 shows the part of a metal support structure of a desktop computer configured to receive the assembly of
side members drive units 20. The support structure comprises abase plate 49 integral with afront wall 41 and mountingside walls cross member 55 joins the tops of theside walls - The
front wall 41 is formed with arectangular aperture 42 for receiving the assembly of theside members wall 41 forming thelower edge 43 of theaperture 42 is formed with guidingrecesses 44 for receiving the bottom edges of theside members upper cross element 46 of thefront wall 41 is formed withrecesses 46 for receiving and guiding the tops of theside members - The
side walls ledges 52 intended to support the bottom of theside members walls elements 53 are designed to engage mid-height external ribs 54 ( see Figure 2) of theside member - Downwardly projecting
members 56 pressed out from thecross member 55 serve as stop elements behind which theresilient arms 29 of the side members snap engage when the side members are fully inserted into the support structure. The rear edge of thecross element 45 of the support structure performs a similar function for theresilient arms 28 when the side members are in a partially inserted position. - Figures 9, 10 and 11 show progressive stages of insertion of an assembly of the Figure 2 components into the
support structure 40 throughaperture 42. More particularly, Figure 9 shows the assembly ofcomponents side members drive unit 20 by a user. Figure 10 shows the assembly ofcomponents engagement arms 28 have just snapped engaged behind thecross element 45; in this position, a user need no longer hold theside members unit 20. Furthermore, with the component assembly in the partially inserted position there is sufficient space behind the rear of thedrive 20 to enable an electrical connector to be engaged with theconnector 22 on the rear of the unit 20 (such engagement may be very difficult when theunit 20 is fully inserted as space is normally at a premium within a desktop computer). If a user wishes to remove thecomponent assembly support structure 40 when the component assembly is in its partially inserted position, then thearms 28 can be readily released from the snap-engaged position by downward finger pressure on the arm. - Figure 11 shows the
component assembly support structure 40 with the snap-engagement arms 29 snap engaged behind thestop elements 56. To withdraw the component assembly from the support structure, a user must release the snap-engagement mechanism by using finger pressure to move thearms 29 inward towards each other. - Figure 12 shows two
drive units 20 held in position between theside members support structure 40. - It will be appreciated that the drive mounting arrangement described above with reference to Figures 2 to 12 provides for simple installation by a user of a new drive unit or units. In particular, all a user need do is to place a new drive unit between the
side members - Many variants are, of course, possible to the described embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, the side members can be designed to mount only one drive unit and Figure 13 illustrates
side members side members side members studs 27, snap-engagement arms - Figure 14 shows a variant of the Figure 13 arrangement in which the
side members flexible bridge element 65. The flexibility of thebridge element 65 is such that theside members drive unit 20 to be placed between them. Upon theside members studs 27 of themembers side members flange elements 67 provided along the bottom of the Figure 14side members corresponding elements 66 of the Figure 13 side members. - Whilst the Figure 14 arrangement makes initial engagement of the side members with the drive unit a little more cumbersome than for the Figure 13 arrangement, it has the advantage that the user does not need to hold the
side members side members drive unit 20 positioned between them. - The mounting arrangements illustrated in Figures 2 to 14 can be dimensioned for mounting any size of mass-storage drive unit. Where the mounting arrangements are dimensioned to mount 5"25 drive units, any suitable adaptor can be used to enable 3"5 drive units also to be mounted. Furthermore, although the mounting arrangements illustrated in Figures 2 to 14 have been described as intended for mounting a mass-storage drive unit, it will be understood that the mounting arrangements could also be used to mount other types of subsystem unit. For example, the mounted subsystem unit could be a small printer.
Claims (12)
- A mounting arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit (20) provided with side fixing holes (23), said mounting arrangement comprising:two side mounting members (24, 25) for engaging respective opposite sides of said subsystem unit,a support structure (40) provided with guide means engaged by said side mounting members for guiding the insertion and withdrawal of the subsystem unit with the side mounting members engaged therewith
- A mounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said guide means guide insertion and withdrawal of said subsystem unit along a front-to-rear axis of the subsystem unit.
- A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said side mounting members are physically separate from each other, said support structure serving to hold said side mounting members in position against the subsystem unit when the latter is inserted in the support structure.
- A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said side mounting members are interconnected by a flexible member (65) permitting the side mounting members to be flexed out of a normal oppositely-facing configuration for engagement about the subsystem unit.
- A mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein each said side mounting member comprises a wall element (26) and at least one mounting element in the form of a generally U-shaped resilient metal member (30) having two interconnected side arms embracing said wall element, one said arm of the mounting element being provided with a projection (27) serving as a said stud of the side mounting member and the other said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting resilient contact (31) providing an electrical grounding connection to said support structure.
- A mounting arrangement according to claim 5, wherein each said wall element is formed with at least one recess (33, 35) in the region of each said mounting element and each mounting element is formed with at least one inwardly-directed projection snap (32, 34) engaged in a corresponding said recess.
- A mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein said side mounting members are formed with resilient snap-engagement means (29) for snap engaging said support structure to hold the subsystem unit in its fully inserted position, said snap-enagement means being manually releasable.
- A mounting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said snap engagement means are further snap engagable with said support structure at a partially-inserted position of said subsystem unit whereby to facilitate connection/disconnection of an external electrical connector.
- A mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein said side mounting members are formed with studs to engage two subsystem units disposed one above the other in spaced relation.
- A computer including a mounting arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims mounting a subsystem unit constituted by a mass-storage drive unit.
- A mounting element for use in mounting a mass storage subsystem unit on a support structure in an arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 through the intermediary of side mounting members, said subsystem unit having side fixing holes; the mounting element comprising a generally U-shaped resilient metal member having two inter-connected side arms for embracing a wall portion of a said side mounting member, one said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting stud for engagement in a said side fixing hole of the subsystem unit and the other said arm being provided with an outwardly-projecting resilient contact for providing an electrical grounding connection to said support structure.
- A mounting element according to claim 11, wherein said arms are formed with inwardly-directed projections that provide for snap engagement of the U-shaped member on said wall portion of said side mounting member.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE69612747T DE69612747T2 (en) | 1996-10-03 | 1996-10-03 | Mounting arrangement for fastening a system unit |
EP96410104A EP0834880B1 (en) | 1996-10-03 | 1996-10-03 | Arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit |
US08/932,155 US6025987A (en) | 1996-03-10 | 1997-09-17 | Mounting arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit |
JP9286010A JPH10160877A (en) | 1996-10-03 | 1997-10-02 | Subsystem unit-fixing device, computer loading the device, and fixing element for large memory device subsystem unit |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96410104A EP0834880B1 (en) | 1996-10-03 | 1996-10-03 | Arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP0834880A1 EP0834880A1 (en) | 1998-04-08 |
EP0834880B1 true EP0834880B1 (en) | 2001-05-09 |
Family
ID=8225379
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96410104A Expired - Lifetime EP0834880B1 (en) | 1996-03-10 | 1996-10-03 | Arrangement for mounting a subsystem unit |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6025987A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0834880B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH10160877A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69612747T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (30)
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DE19718422C2 (en) * | 1997-04-30 | 1999-02-25 | Siemens Nixdorf Inf Syst | Pluggable holding device for hard disk storage drives or plug-in assemblies of the same design with regard to the outer shape |
US6104280A (en) | 1997-10-20 | 2000-08-15 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Method of manufacturing and testing an electronic device, and an electronic device |
TW437973U (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2001-05-28 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | Casing body for installing electronic apparatus |
TW426175U (en) * | 1999-03-16 | 2001-03-11 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | Carrying apparatus for electric circuit board |
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JPS6082795U (en) * | 1983-11-14 | 1985-06-07 | ティアック株式会社 | magnetic disk drive |
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-
1996
- 1996-10-03 EP EP96410104A patent/EP0834880B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-10-03 DE DE69612747T patent/DE69612747T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-09-17 US US08/932,155 patent/US6025987A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-10-02 JP JP9286010A patent/JPH10160877A/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0834880A1 (en) | 1998-04-08 |
DE69612747T2 (en) | 2001-08-23 |
US6025987A (en) | 2000-02-15 |
JPH10160877A (en) | 1998-06-19 |
DE69612747D1 (en) | 2001-06-13 |
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